Commentary from Cara Rene, Vice President of Community Development for the Downtown Tucson Partnership.

Tucson marks its 234th birthday tomorrow and everyone is invited to join in the celebration. Come see the unwrapping of a major gift to our community - the new Fourth Avenue Underpass.

This key downtown revitalization project has come to fruition after two years of construction.

Ninety-three years after the original Fourth Avenue Underpass was built, we now journey into a new era with a project constructed for our city’s future needs.

The underpass will be dedicated tomorrow at a grand opening celebration that starts at 4 p.m in the underpass. The ceremony will be emceed by Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup and features numerous dignitaries and community leaders.

This won’t be the usual ribbon cutting, as the Old Pueblo Trolley is scheduled to officially open the underpass by bursting through a ribbon and taking an honored place in a parade of bagpipers, antique cars and hot rods.

Then the fun really begins with a free community party that goes until 10 pm and includes a bounty of live music, family-friendly activities, car shows, merchant specials, prizes, giveaways and more.

The trolley will run until midnight, offering free rides from the U of A to Congress Street in Downtown.

But, the underpass is more than an extended route for the trolley and future modern streetcar – it’s a spacious, modern passageway for both vehicles and pedestrians.

For those who are unfamiliar with Downtown, this is a perfect opportunity to grab friends and family to get acquainted with Tucson’s lively historic core.

The Downtown Tucson Partnership, Fourth Avenue Merchants Association and Main Gate Square have worked collaboratively to create a full schedule of activities to celebrate the reconnection of downtown neighborhoods and business districts.

With true community spirit, merchants, organizations and performance groups have worked together to make this a memorable event for Tucsonans. The excitement is palpable among those who have eagerly awaited completion of this major infrastructure project.

In addition to the live music events and extensive goings-on, enjoy a free ice cream social in La Placita Village and the inaugural Tucson Birthday Cake Competition at 5 p.m. at Hotel Congress featuring celebrity judges Mayor Walkup and TSO conductor George Hanson among others. There’ll be plenty of free cake for visitors!

For the full schedule of activities, visit DowntownTucson.com.

I encourage Tucsonans to head Downtown tomorrow to join in this community party – there is something for everyone and tangible progress to celebrate.